WRAL Sports Fan

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After Year in Spotlight, Duke Lacrosse Team Ready for ACC Tournament

Apr 27, 2007

Durham, N.C. — After more than a year of being in the spotlight and a canceled season, the Duke men's lacrosse team is hoping for a big win this weekend.

The school is hosting the ACC lacrosse tournament, starting Friday. Duke first-year coach John Danowski said the players have stayed focused on the positive, despite the negative publicity of the past year.

The team was moving towards a national championship last year when their season was abruptly cut short after three former players -- Collin Finnerty, Dave Evans and Reade Seligmann -- were charged with raping an exotic dancer at a team party. University officials decided to cancel the rest of the season.

Earlier in April, the three individuals were declared innocent. Now, their former teammates are making up for lost time. The team is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Danowski was named the ACC coach of the year. He guided the Blue Devils (11-2) to a first-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season race and the program's first No. 1 ranking in a national poll earlier this season.

Danowski's son, Matt, who is also the team's co-captain, was also named ACC player of the year. Danowski has 28 goals and 28 assists this season.